Tribune Interactive to house digital assets and pursue growth strategy for company

Posted
Monday, February 12, 2018 9:55 pm

With an enhanced balance sheet following the sale of the California News Group, tronc, Inc. is embarking on a national digital growth strategy through its newly reorganized Tribune Interactive division, which will operate the digital functions of the company, as well as pursue strategic growth investments and acquisitions, such as its newly announced majority ownership in high growth consumer reviews and e-commerce company, BestReviews.

Tribune Interactive (TI) will be the home to tronc's digital assets and functions, including product development and engineering; digital subscriptions and marketing; the studios unit which is responsible for video, audio and new content formats; national digital sales; and, digital corporate and business development. TI will also include syndication unit TCA and recently acquired, The Daily Meal. TI will launch, partner with, invest in and acquire digital businesses and accelerate growth of new digital and diversified revenue streams. The group will also continue to develop and distribute national digital content to each of the brands within tronc, as well as across affiliated web and mobile properties, partners and social platforms.

TI will be led by newly reinstated executive Ross Levinsohn as CEO. Mickie Rosen will serve as president and Lewis D'Vorkin as chief content officer, joined by Ben Gerst, as chief technology officer; Mark Campbell, leading digital subscriptions and marketing; and, Rob Angel, leading corporate and business development.

Following an independent investigation and a report to the Board of Directors finding no wrongdoing on the part of Levinsohn, the Board determined to reinstate Levinsohn and appoint him CEO of Tribune Interactive, LLC. Tribune Interactive will be based in Chicago, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, and will report to tronc, Inc. CEO Justin Dearborn.

"We are excited to continue to build the future of the company through product and digital content innovations and distribution initiatives, as well as strategic partnerships and acquisitions to accelerate growth," said Dearborn. "We are pleased that Ross will be back to work. We have great confidence in him and the team to deliver value for our shareholders through growing digital audiences for our award-winning journalism, new creative content and product initiatives, and growing digital and diversified revenue streams."